Mark Foster hit the front as Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia moved into contention in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.

Spain’s Garcia returned a third round of 68 to put himself in the frame for The European Tour’s Flagship Event.

Starting the day five off the lead, Garcia's round got off to a bad start with a bogey on the first, but the 33 year old birdied the fourth, fifth and ninth to be out in 33.

Further birdies followed at the 12th and 13th and after a three-putt bogey on the 14th, The Ryder Cup star finished with a birdie on the 18th.

"I hit a terrible shot on the first after a great tee shot, but other than that I hit a lot of good shots," said Garcia.

"I didn't really putt that well. I'm struggling a little with the pace of the greens and missed a couple of short putts today.

"I think it's been a tough week but we've been getting better every day, so hopefully we can finish on a high note tomorrow.

"There's no doubt that everybody has made it so much easier for me. The crowds here, I don't have words to explain what I feel towards them. They have been amazing, every single tee, every single green, cheering me on. I can never pay them back."

At five under par Garcia was four behind leader Foster, the Englishman recovering from a bogey on the third with a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth and another on the 12th.

Foster was one ahead of compatriot Westwood, who was revelling in the improvements in his short game but also struck a brilliant approach to the par five fourth to set up an eagle from just four feet.

Westwood also birdied the seventh, 12th and 14th to share second with Spain's Alejandro Cañizares, who had birdied four of his first 12 holes to share the lead before a first dropped shot of the day on the 13th.

Overnight leader Francesco Molinari was five off the pace after dropping five shots in three holes before the turn, most of them in a triple-bogey seven on the eighth where a second shot into the water was followed by three putts.

Foster's hopes of a second Tour win nosedived with bogeys on the 14th and 15th and a double bogey from the middle of the fairway on the 16th, allowing fellow Worksop professional Westwood to take over at the top.

Westwood had bogeyed the 16th but pitched to two feet for a birdie on the 17th and parred the last to complete a 67 and set the clubhouse target on eight under par.